The Subcommittee on Energy and Power, chaired by Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-KY), has scheduled a hearing for Tuesday, April 14, 2015, at 10:00 a.m. in room 2123 of the Rayburn House Office Building. The hearing is entitled, “EPA’s Proposed 111(d) Rule for Existing Power Plants, and H.R. __, the Ratepayer Protection Act."
Chairman Whitfield unveiled a discussion draft of the Ratepayer Protection Act last month to empower states to protect households and businesses from higher electricity rates and other harmful effects of EPA’s pending rule regulating carbon dioxide emissions from existing power plants. The legislation would allow for the completion of judicial review of any final rule before requiring states to comply with the extensive requirements of the regulation. The bill would also provide a safe harbor for states if the governor determines that implementation of a state or federal plan under any final 111(d) rule would adversely affect ratepayers or reliability.
“This bill is about keeping energy affordable and keeping the lights on," said Whitfield. “EPA is attempting an unprecedented takeover of states’ electricity systems and it is the consumers who will bear the brunt of this regulatory overreach in the form of higher rates. We simply want to give states the flexibility they need to protect their citizens."
Panel 1
The Honorable Janet McCabe, Acting Assistant Administrator for the Office of Air and Radiation, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Panel 2
Eugene M. Trisko, Energy Economist and Attorney on behalf of the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity
Lisa D. Johnson, CEO and General Manager, Seminole Electric Cooperative, Inc. on behalf of National Rural Electric Cooperative Association
Kevin Sunday, Manager, Government Affairs, Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry
Paul Cicio, President, Industrial Energy Consumers of America
Susan F. Tierney, Senior Advisor, Analysis Group
The Majority Memorandum, a full witness list, and witness testimony will be available HERE as they are posted.
